If there’s one thing new and expanded facilities that opened in 2003 have in common, it’s show-friendly design. Facility managers say they did their homework in the planning stages. They used focus groups, surveys and client evaluations to find out what show organizers want. They visited other buildings, identified successful features and incorporated them into their own designs. In 2003, the top items on show managers’ wish lists became must-haves for venues.

When the Fort Worth Convention Center was planning the expansion that opened last May, “More dock space was at the top of the list,” says Marsha Anderson, Communications Officer. Show managers say they want easier loading and unloading, so across the board, facilities are adding bigger docks, overhead doors and elevators, and providing drive-in access to the show floor.

Convenient office space off the floor — but not too far off — is another priority for show managers, says Hugh Austin, Executive Director of the Georgia International Convention Center that opened last April near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Show managers want places to meet their clients. So not only are facilities adding lots of office space, they’re also making the space more comfortable and attractive with upgraded furniture, VIP lounges and private restrooms.

Shows need more breakout rooms, says Ron Scott, Client Relations Manager at Sarasota Bradenton International Convention Center, which opened last June. “Facilities keep expanding conference room space because now training, seminars and product introductions are a big part of shows,” he says. This year’s facilities are adding rooms of all sizes and lots of amenities, like soundproof walls and ergonomic furniture.

There’s always a demand for the latest technology, and facilities are trying to anticipate technology needs with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, enhanced electrical and data hookups, and plenty of outlets on the show floor. Wireless Internet is a requirement.

Last year, eight new U.S. facilities opened, featuring 1.25 million square feet of exhibit space, and another 10 expanded their exhibit space by 2.45 million square feet. Internationally, 3.33 million square feet of exhibit space came online. Here’s a look at the new and expanded facilities that opened in 2003 worldwide.

New Facilities

David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Pittsburgh, PA, www.pittsburghcc.com
Phone: 412-565-6000
Contact: Debbie Smucker, Director of Sales and Marketing
E-mail: dsmucker@pittsburghcc.com
Cost: $370 million
Completion: September 2003
Exhibit space: 314,000 sq. ft. on two levels, 236,000 sq. ft. column free, 32,000 sq. ft.
ballroom
Meeting space: 63,750 sq. ft. includes 53 meeting rooms and two 250-seat lecture halls
Truck access: 37 loading docks, direct access to all five exhibit halls
In-house services: Food and beverage, security, telecommunications
Parking: 700 parking spaces in on-site garage and surrounding facilities
Location: Downtown, 18 miles from Pittsburgh International Airport
Hotels: More than 1,700 nearby

Sarasota Bradenton International Convention Center
Sarasota, FL , www.sbicc.net
Phone: 941-355-9161
Contact: Ron Scott, Client Relations Manager
E-mail: ron@sbicc.net
Completion: June 2003
Exhibit space: 48,000 net sq. ft.
Meeting space: 4,756 sq. ft. in five rooms
Truck Access: One 14x16 ft. and two 10x10 ft. loading doors, Six dock bays
In-house Services: Food and beverage, electric, telephone, Internet.
Parking: 738 spaces, 200 spaces available on surrounding parcels
Location: Metropolitan, between Sarasota and Bradenton, 1.7 miles from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport
Hotels: 800 rooms within a five-minute drive

Grande Lakes Orlando
Orlando, FL, www.grandelakes.com
Phone: 407-206-1100
Contact: Jim Quinn, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, or Bruce Seigel, Director of Marketing
E-mail: bruce.seigel@ritzcarlton.com
Cost: $600 million, includes conference center, two hotels, spa and golf course
Completion date: July 2003
Exhibit space: 105,000 sq. ft., includes four ballrooms
Meeting space: 35 meeting rooms, two boardrooms, all equipped with high-speed and wireless Internet access
Truck access: Loading dock available and doors to ballrooms and exhibit space are accessible
In-house services: Banquet and catering, security, valet parking
Parking: 2,000 spaces
Location: 10 miles from Orlando International Airport
Hotels: Connected to 584-room Ritz-Carlton and 1,000-room JW Marriott at Grande Lakes Orlando.

Palm Beach County Convention Center
West Palm Beach, FL, www.palmbeachfl.com
Phone: 561-366-3000
Contact: Jen Welding, Director of Event Services
E-mail: jwelding@pbconventioncenter.com
Cost: $80 million
Completion: November 2003
Exhibit space: 100,000 sq. ft. in exhibit hall on first floor divisible into two sections. 25,000 sq. ft. grand ballroom, 20,000 sq. ft. outdoor exhibit space
Meeting space: 19 rooms, 23,000 sq. ft.
Truck access: Direct access to exhibit hall, 44-foot-wide ramp, 12 docks for tractor trailers, one 20x12 ft. freight elevator
In-house services: Food and beverage, valet parking
Parking: 1,100 spaces
Location: Downtown West Palm Beach, 3 miles from Palm Beach International Airport
Hotels: 3,000 rooms within three miles.

Phil Long Expo Center
Colorado Springs CO,www.phillongexpocenter.com
Phone: 719-867-6635
Contact: RuNell Robbins, General Manager
E-mail: runellr@phillong.com
Cost: $3 Million (conversion of existing building)
Completion: November 2003
Exhibit space: 115,000 sq. ft.
Meeting space: 100,000 sq. ft. (moveable walls will conform to any size or configuration needed), conference room and VIP Lounge and 5,000 sq. ft. atrium.
Truck access: 20x16 ft. overhead door with access to exhibit floor, two 8x12 ft. loading docks with access to exhibit floor, two loading docks with motorized loading platforms.
In-house services: Concessions, broadcast system, six ticketing windows and turnstiles
Parking: 1,200 spaces
Location: North side of Colorado Springs, 19 Miles from the Colorado Springs Airport

Qwest Center Omaha
Omaha NE, www.qwestcenteromaha.com
Phone: 402-341-1500
Contact: Kathy Schultheiss
E-mail: kschultheiss@qwestcenter.com
Cost: $291 million
Completion: September 2003
Exhibit Space: 194,000 sq. ft. of contiguous space. Fiber-optic backbone infrastructure throughout, electrical and data floor boxes 30 ft. from center
Meeting space: 16 rooms in 32,700 sq. ft. plus 30,500 sq. ft. Peter Kiewit Grand Ballroom, 17,000-seat arena
Truck access: 23 loading docks and three drive-in ramps
In-house services: Catering, AV, rigging and production
Parking: 4,000 surface parking spaces and an additional 500 garage spaces
Location: Downtown, 2.5 miles from Eppley Airfield
Hotels: Connected by skywalk to 450-room Hilton opening April 2004

Georgia International Convention Center
College Park Atlanta, GA , www.gicc.com
Phone: 770-997-3566, 888-331-GICC
Contact: Hugh Austin, Executive Director, or Mercedes Miller, Director
E-mail: haustin@gicc.com, ormmiller@gicc.com
Cost: $85 million building, $15 million infrastructure
Completion: April 2003
Exhibit space: 88,000 net square feet on one level that can be divided into four halls, each with a cafe concession and show managers office. 40,000 square-foot ballroom, divisible into eight salons
Meeting space: 16,000 sq. ft., 24 meetings rooms, executive boardroom, two junior boardrooms
Truck access: 18 bays, eight load levelers, wide truck apron, two shipping and receiving offices, two wash racks on loading dock. Marshalling yard on site. All ground level access, unlimited floor load, four 20x20 ft. freight rollup doors for access to hall
In-house services: Catering, Internet and phone services, AV, and security
Parking: 2,000 surface spaces. 3,000 additional spaces will be added as hotels and airport parking are completed.
Location: Adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, eight miles from downtown Atlanta
Hotels: More than 10,000 hotel rooms in the area. Within the next three years, five four-star hotels will be built adjacent to the GICC.

Washington Convention Center
Washington, DC, www.dcconvention.com
Phone: 202-249-3000 or 800-368-9000
Contact: Pia Brown, Director of Event Operations
E-mail: pbrown@dcconvention.com
Cost: $850 million
Completion: March 2003
Exhibit space: 725,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 52,000-square-foot ballroom
Meeting space: 125,000 square feet of meeting space in 66 rooms
Truck Access: 65 loading docks, with direct access to upper and lower exhibit floors
In-house Services: Food and beverage; technology and Internet services; electrical and plumbing; AV
Parking: None on site, 13,000 spaces within walking distance
Location: Downtown. Baltimore-Washington International Airport is about 30 miles from the center. Dulles is about 27 miles, and Reagan National is 5 miles.
Hotels: 12,000 rooms within one mile of the center

Expansions

Amarillo Civic Center
Amarillo, TX , www.civicamarillo.com
Completion: April 2003
What’s new: 20,725-square-foot Heritage Room can divide into 20 breakout rooms, has fiber-optic wiring and high-speed Internet access. Kitchen located next to the Heritage Room.
Contact: Darlene Kee, Director of Convention Sales, darlene@amarillo-cvb.org, 800-692-1338

Caribe Royale Resort Suites & Convention Center
Orlando, FL, www.cariberoyale.com
Completion: September 2003
What’s new: 40,000-square-foot ballroom and 20 breakout rooms
Contact: David Ball, Director of Convention Center Operations,dball@cariberoyale.com, or Scott Flexman, Director of Sales and Marketing,sflexman@cariberoyale.com, 407-238-8000

Fort Worth Convention Center
Fort Worth, TX,www.fortworthgov.org/publicevents
Completion: May 2003
What’s new: 25,000 square feet of exhibit space and 22,800 square-feet of meeting space. The existing 100,000 square feet of exhibit space has been renovated, and audio controls in meeting rooms have been upgraded.
Contact: Barbara Heineman, Sales Manager,bheineman@fortworthgov.org,
817-630-2588

George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, TX, www.houstonconventionctr.com
Completion: November 2003
What’s new: More than 400,000 square-feet of exhibit space, 60 meeting rooms, 46,000 square feet added to registration areas, 1,200-room Hilton Americas Houston attached by skybridge.
Contact: Luther Villagomez, General Manager,luther.villagomez@cityofhouston, 713-853-8001

Greensboro Coliseum Complex Pavilion
Greensboro, NC, www.greensboro-nc.gov
Completion: March 2003
What’s new: 30,000-square-foot multi-use pavilion added to the Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Contact: Scott Johnson, Director of Booking and Event Services,scott.johnson@greensboro-nc.gov, 336-373-7400

Moscone West
San Francisco, CA, www.moscone.com
Completion: June 2003
What’s new: 300,000 square feet on three floors
Contact: Melody Lendaro, Director of Sales,mlendaro@moscone.com, 415-974-4000

Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL, www.orlandoconvention.com
Completion: September 2003
What’s new: 1.05 million square feet added to the North Complex, includes four exhibit halls and 25 meeting rooms
Contact: Marketing Department, marketing@occc.net, 407-685-9800

Oregon Convention Center
Portland, OR, www.oregoncc.org
Completion: April 2003
What’s new: 407,500 square feet including 2 ballrooms, 255,000 square feet of exhibit space and 50 meeting rooms
Contact: Matt Pizzuti, Sales & Marketing Director,mattpizzuti@oregoncc.org, 800-791-2250

Richmond Raceway Complex
Richmond, VA, www.richmondracewaycomplex.com
Completion: May 2003
What’s New: Renovation of the Old Dominion Building into a 36,000 square-foot exhibition hall.
Contact: Louis Gilmore, Director of Complex Sales,lgilmore@rir.com, 804-228-7617

Summit Arena at the Hot Springs Civic and Convention Center
Hot Springs, AR, www.hotsprings.org
Completion: November 2003
What’s new: 120,000 square feet of exhibit space
Contact: Steve Arrison, Executive Director,sarrison@hotsprings.org, 501-321-2027

New and expanded international facilities

Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre
Aberdeen, Scotland, www.aecc.co.uk
Completion: April 2003
What’s new: Two 6,000 square-foot suites, 20 breakout rooms, auditorium capacity increased from 300 to 450 delegates.
Contact: Brian Horsburgh, Director of Sales,sales@aecc.co.uk, phone: +44 (0) 1224-824824.

Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre
Bangkok, Thailand, www.bitec.net
Completion: September 2003
What’s new: 100,000-square-foot column-free hall that can be divided into three rooms. An air-conditioned walkway connects the hall to existing buildings in the complex.
Contact: Anchalee Chamroontaneskul, anchaleec@bitec.net, phone: 66-2-749-3939.

Cape Town International Convention Centre
Cape Town, South Africa,www.capetownconvention.com
Completion: July 2003
What’s new: More than 100,000 square-feet of dedicated, column-free exhibition space that can be configured into five halls. There are four meeting rooms, 13 meeting suites, a 1,500-seat auditorium and a 620-seat auditorium. The center is attached to the five-star, 483-room Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel.
Contact Angeline Lue, Marketing and Sales Manager,info@ctconvention.co.za, phone: +27-21-410-5000.

CINTERMEX
Monterrey, NL, Mexico, www.cintermex.com.mx
Completion: March 2003
What’s new: 34,300-square-foot hall with floor constructed for heavy machinery trade shows.
Contact: Jessica Estrella, jestrella@cintermex.com.mx, or Sara Garcia,sigarcia@cintermex.com.mx, 52-81-8369-6969.

Dubai International Convention Centre
Dubai UAE, www.dwtc.com
Completion: September 2003
What’s new: 83,600-square-foot hall, which can be divided into four rooms, that can accommodate 2,500 retractable tiered seats and 2,000 seats on the floor. A 412-room Novotel hotel and a 210-room Ibis hotel are adjacent to the center.
Contact: Ashok Thomas, ashok.thomas@dwtc.com, phone: +971-4-3086083.